Parenting with Science: Behavior Analysis Saves Mom's Sanity

Applied Behavior Analysis uses evidence-based practices to help reduce problem behaviors and increase desired behaviors. Who needs these strategies more than anyone? Parents! Especially parents with young children.

In this book, learn 10 strategies of ABA to help prevent problem behavior in your family. Read funny examples and get tips on behavior management to help save Mom's (and Dad's) sanity!

ABA is often used for children with autism spectrum disorders, but the benefits don't stop there. Use positive behavior supports to cut down on tantrums and hopefully help stop Mom's hair from turning gray. Okay- no promises on the hair thing. But positive behavior supports are evidence-based and proven to work with any and all people- even the Littles that run our households!

Every technique presented is backed up by research from the Behavior Analysis, Educational Psychology, and related fields. There is an extensive bibliography at the end that I know you are dying to read.

The goal is to help parents come in contact with the actual research-based methods used by clinicians worldwide. Parents can implement these tools and reap the benefits of a calmer household with lots of positive reinforcement for all the wonderful behaviors of their children.

ABA works. Research tells us that. Why not try it in your home?

Fantastic! Whether you have a 9 month old baby, or a rambunctious pre-schooler, the strategies in this book will help YOU form habits that set your child up for success! Who doesn't want that? Quick and easy read that perfectly illustrates how proven strategies, widely used in schools and clinics, apply to toddlers! Lots of great ideas that are more than just "tricks." These strategies are based on the science of behavior. This book encourages parents that you really are in control, and that the decisions affect your child's behavior!- from an amazon reviewer

All moms need this book. I wish I had had it when my Littles were little. It is brief, easy to understand, gets to the point, and –most importantly – it works!

Leanne Page, with humorous examples and chatty explanations, shows us ordinary moms how to use scientific principles to, not only improve behaviors, but to teach our children important skills. And I mean the really important life skills like self-care, cooperation with parents, and polite behavior to others.

She shows parents how to do that difficult task of paying attention to good behaviors and not reacting to undesired behaviors. She explains how to look at undesired (annoying) behaviors and to think about, “What behavior would be a better alternative for my Little?” An example of this is teaching the Little to tap mom’s shoulder to ask for something instead of screaming.

She explains how to use positive reinforcement to increase good behaviors, and how to eliminate “random” rewards which may accidentally reinforce undesired behaviors. I loved the section on how to pair a desired activity with an undesired activity so that the undesired activity becomes more palatable to the child.

Other great sections explain how to decide on a replacement behavior to take the place of an annoying behavior, how to use tokens the right way to teach the desired replacement behavior, and how to use tokens to teach “group” behaviors -- so that all the children in the family learn how to behave politely with each other. These are crucial social and human interaction skills that parents desperately want to teach but often don’t know how.

Most importantly, this book replaces superstitious parenting with scientific parenting. It shows parents that they don’t have to resort to yelling, scolding and punishment to teach their children the right way to behave. Those are age-old tactics and we use them because we don’t know better and they are still socially accepted (and even advocated). The science of behavior analysis gives us outstanding effective tools to teach our children important life skills: without punishment, without trauma, and without anger.

Two final notes:

Leanne’s advice is practical. The problems she discusses are common problems. The solutions build on a skill all parents already have – the ability to observe their children.

Leanne’s advice is affordable. The solutions involve almost no financial cost. Leanne specifically describes how to make simple home-made charts and token systems, and how to use low-cost treats (treats that we would be giving anyway) as reinforcers for our children’s good behaviors.

This is a five-star book.

Love this book! Such a quick read and has great information for moms! The examples are very helpful in explaining the topics covered. I will be recommending this book to friends with littles as well as parents that I work with!- from an amazon reviewer